In my role as Vocation Director for the North American Province of the Cenacle Sisters, I have the privilege of meeting many wonderful women, and sharing a part of their spiritual journey. I find more and more people wondering if religious life, or affiliation with a religious congregation, is where God might be calling them -- inviting them "into their future." For all, no matter where the journey eventually leads them, investigating this possibility turns out to be a very important part of their discernment. Much of my dialogue with people is centered on their relationship with God, past and present; what makes them happy and gives them that deeper sense of wholeness; and the call to be part of a spiritual community.

Vocation directors of all congregations are first and foremost "companions on the journey" rather than "recruiters." While we obviously feel that our way of living out of the gospel call is wonderful and we want to invite others to join us -- our first commitment is to helping women and men deepen their own relationship with God -- however and wherever that leads them.

Since the primary expression of our Cenacle ministry is retreats and spiritual direction, I feel doubly blessed in bringing this background to my particular ministry as vocations director.

Originally from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Sr. Janice Bemowski received an undergraduate degree in interior design and went on to work in Chicago both in designing and banking. Living in a condo and being part of urban life, Sr. Janice found herself searching even though her work and life were good. She had begun a process of discernment by enrolling in the pastoral studies program at Loyola, and by looking at religious life when she happened upon a retreat weekend at the Chicago Cenacle in 1988. She felt God was indeed calling her to something else and needed to trust Him enough to quit her job which she did at the end of the summer. In 1989 she entered a pre-novitiate program and later a formal novitiate on Long Island after completing her MPS from Loyola. She has served at Cenacles in Houston, Chicago and Minneapolis. As vocations director, she is currently working on many projects that share information about the Cenacle Sisters, Auxiliaries, and Affiliates/Companions.